Essex County personal watercraft riders rescued by Canadian Coast Guard after eight-hour ordeal in Lake Erie

Two Essex County turbo watercraft enthusiasts can thank Amherstburg’s Canadian Coast Guard and Auxiliary — as well as sheer chance — for saving their lives after an eight-hour ordeal treading water in Lake Erie.

“Lucky,” said Jeff Faucher of the CCGS Thunder Cape — one of the vessels that pulled the two shivering men out of the lake around 12:20 a.m. Tuesday.

Rescue specialist Jana Lorbetski said the odds against finding the riders were so great that bringing them to shore alive “felt like winning the jackpot.”

“I mean, you always keep looking. But you’re conditioned to so many negative experiences of not finding anything,” she said.

The two adult males had attempted to ride one red Honda Aquatrax from Pelee Island to Leamington — a distance of 13 nautical miles — on Monday afternoon.

They lost control of the watercraft and become separated from it about five nautical miles from the mainland.

Only one of the men had a life jacket.

No one was waiting for the men on shore. Their dire situation went unnoticed until the MV Jiimaan of the Pelee Island Ferry Service spotted the seemingly abandoned Aquatrax floating along the ferry route around 9:30 p.m.

Once alerted by the ferry captain, the Thunder Cape and the Colchester Guardian auxiliary vessel began a desperate nighttime search for the missing riders.

The CCGS Thunder Cape, an Amherstburg-based Canadian Coast Guard rescue boat, is pictured in this June 2009 file photo.Tyler Brownbridge /
Windsor Star

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter played a crucial role — locating the watercraft in the dark.

From there, the two Canadian Coast Guard boats scoured the water’s surface. About 50 minutes into their search pattern, Coxswain Herb Ruthven of the Colchester Guardian caught a heat image on his thermal camera.

Chief engineer Greg Colbeck stressed the good fortune of Ruthven’s sighting: “Trying to find a head bobbing above the water in a lake at night is next to impossible.”

Lorbetski said the two survivors showed signs of hypothermia, and were taken to hospital after reaching the Leamington shore. Both are expected to recover fully.

The rider who had worn a life jacket was released by Tuesday afternoon.

“The other guy, who had no life jacket, was totally exhausted and in more trouble, in terms of hypothermia,” Lorbetski said.

The men had clung to each other for flotation and warmth. Commanding officer Sondi Ryersee estimates just over eight hours elapsed between their fall into the water and their rescue.

Water temperature at the time was estimated at 23 C, with some wind conditions.

“If this had happened in April or May — different story,” Faucher said ominously.

Lake Erie as seen from Colchester Beach on July 3, 2017.Dan Janisse /
Windsor Star

As for who’s to blame for the near-fatal mishap, Coast Guard members would only point to a combination of factors: The watercraft was registered just last week, indicating a new purchase and possible lack of experience.

The Aquatrax may have been overloaded by the second rider, who apparently joined the watercraft’s owner at the spur of the moment before their departure from Pelee Island.

Coast Guard members emphasized the situation could have been avoided with better decision-making, and would have been much less dangerous if simple precautions had been taken.

“Wear a life jacket,” said Jim Oakley, unit leader of the Colchester Guardian. “Have a whistle. Have reflectors on your life jacket.”

Oakley also noted the value of having a sail plan: “Let someone know when you’re leaving, where you’re going, and when to expect you back.”

Canadian Coast Guard, OPP, and other emergency response agencies have repeatedly reminded the public about the importance of marine safety, especially during the summer.

Like all vessels of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Colchester Guardian is entirely manned by volunteers. The 31-foot marine rescue and safety boat began duty about five years ago. It has no paid administrative staff and depends on public donations or the investment of its volunteers for its continued operation. Unit members commonly purchase their own gear — even their life jackets. The Guardian is currently in need of new motors. For more information, including how you can help, visit www.colchesterguardian.org.

Members of the Amherstburg-based Canadian Coast Guard and Auxiliary on July 18, 2017. From left: Herb Ruthven, Jim Oakley, and Mike Drexler of the Colchester Guardian; Greg Colbeck, Jana Lorbetski, Jeff Faucher, and Sondi Ryersee of the Thunder Cape.Dan Janisse /
Windsor Star

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